Book Review: Christmas at Lilac Cottage by Holly Martin

Many thanks to Holly for inviting me to take part in the blog tour for her new book, billed as “A perfect romance to curl up by the fire with” and I can’t argue with that!

What’s it about?

Welcome to the charming seaside town of White Cliff Bay, where Christmas is magical and love is in the air…

Penny Meadows loves her home – a cosy cottage decorated with pretty twinkling fairy lights and stunning views over the town of White Cliff Bay. She also loves her job as an ice-carver, creating breathtaking sculptures. Yet her personal life seems frozen.

When Henry and daughter Daisy arrive at the cottage to rent the annex, Penny is determined to make them feel welcome. But while Daisy is friendly, Henry seems guarded.

As Penny gets to know Henry, she realises there is more to him than meets the eye. And the connection between them is too strong to ignore…

While the spirit of the season sprinkles its magic over the seaside town and preparations for the ice sculpting competition and Christmas eve ball are in full swing, can Penny melt the ice and allow love in her heart? And will this finally be the perfect Christmas she’s been dreaming of?

My thoughts

Welcome to White Cliff Bay; a small sea-side town where everyone knows everyone else’s business 😉

From the opening scenes you know where this book is going to lead (nudge nudge wink wink)! Henry’s hot and hot-tempered whilst Penny doubts her self-worth and her self-esteem is in the toilet but it’s still lust at first sight. It’s a fun read as they go through all the initial “he likes me, she likes me not” to-ing and fro-ing and then their ensuing relationship antics.

You can always guarantee Holly will give you likeable unpretentious characters; all flawed in some way but totally relatable, just like people you know down the street. This book gives the impression that it’s all sweetness, light and cuteness but there is a deeper theme running through it; in that stuff that happens in our past, affects and shapes our futures, and is always there lingering in the background waiting to mess with our heads. It’s scary how much I saw of myself in Penny even with the 10 year age gap and still do.

Now, I did find Henry’s over-protectiveness of Daisy somewhat grating, having been a single parent to a teenage girl I understand how hard it is but you just get on with it. I did find some of the pussy-footing around Daisy somewhat mollycoddling; then I don’t have much patience for this type of stuff in real life, harsh I know! Also not entirely sure I would have chucked myself in the sea for that child either; heartless maybe, god I sound like the worst human being ever! I would have sounded the alarm of course!

Top marks go to character Jill; think we could all do with a Jill in our lives!

What I do like about Holly’s books is that you do know what you’re gonna get…a heart-felt rom com with likeable characters, a heart-warming story and a happy ending. A lovely Christmas read!

Many thanks to Bookouture for approving me for an ARC via Netgalley, and Holly as always, best of luck with the book!

Holly has been writing for six years. She was shortlisted for the New Talent Award at the Festival of Romance. Her short story won the Sunlounger competition and was published in the Sunlounger anthology. She won the Carina Valentine’s competition at the Festival of Romance 2013 with her novel The Guestbook. She was shortlisted for Best Romantic Read, Best eBook and Innovation in Romantic Fiction at the Festival of Romance 2014. Holly lives in Bedfordshire.

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